MILES STOREY says Aberdeen won’t be intimidated by Celtic’s free-scoring strike force at Parkhead on Saturday as the Dons prepare to lay down their marker as title challengers.

The striker revealed a confidence within the Pittodrie ranks that they won’t let Celtic run away with the title, as has been predicted by some based on their early-season form under new boss Brendan Rodgers.

As powerful as they have looked going forward with Leigh Griffiths, Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele and James Forrest spearheading their attacking options, Storey insists Aberdeen won’t blink as they prepare to face them down in Saturday’s live lunch time clash.

The 22-year-old Englishman said: “Celtic have so much firepower now – Leigh Griffiths seems to score every week and added to that you have Dembele and Sinclair, and James Forrest is playing well too.

“I’ve seen there’s a real quality in the squad in every single position here and a strong competition for places.

“We have to believe in ourselves and go down there with a good mindset. I believe we can provide Celtic with a good test.

“I’m sure our training will be geared to doing our best in trying to prevent them running away with it – and there’s no reason why we can go down there and do that.”

“We believe we can be the main challengers to Celtic this season. That was one of the main draws for me and I hope we can do that again this year.

“Rangers are back and getting a lot of publicity for it and starting well, but we have to keep putting our marker down as a real challenger as well as Rangers.

“We watched the two goals St Johnstone scored against Celtic last weekend and we know they can be got at and that’s what we’ll be looking to do on Saturday.

Anthony O'Connor celebrates with Miles Storey

“There is no reason why we can’t go down to Parkhead and do well.”

Storey will certainly walk into Celtic Park with an extra spring in his step having grabbed his breakthrough first goal for Aberdeen in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Partick Thistle.

That second-half strike was also a much-needed confidence boost for the team as a whole as it secured their first victory of the Premiership season after two opening goalless draws against St Johnstone and Hearts.

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Storey added: “We needed that victory against Partick. Two games without any goals wasn’t good enough and we made it difficult for ourselves towards the end – but I’m pleased we got the win and glad I’ve got my first goal for Aberdeen.

“I’ve just been taking everything in and I realise this is a massive club and I’ve got to play my part, train well and get into the team. I’m hopeful if I get the opportunity I’ll score but we have good striking options and good competition for places.

“I think we all offer something completely different from each other. There are a lot of players who can play in the forward positions and a lot of different options for the gaffer and that’s what you need at a big club like Aberdeen.

“From a personal point of view I need to get fitter, I need to get stronger and I need to do more.

“I haven’t really set any targets for myself in terms of a specific number of goals, it’s mainly just getting a regular place in the team by showing my best on the training field every day and showing everybody what I can do.

“I’m not too far away from full fitness. When I was at Inverness last year I played a lot of games and I felt fitter and stronger and the way that I play – getting in behind the defenders – that’ll come.”

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If Storey does get the nod to step out at Celtic Park it won’t be the first time he’s encountered Hoops boss Rodgers, having played in the same team as the Hoops manager’s son Anton when he was coming through the ranks at Swindon Town.

He added: “I played with Anton, mainly on the training field, and he’s a very good player.

“When Brendan was at Liverpool he loaned a lot of young lads to Swindon and had a decent relationship with our manager so he had a bit of input there, but he wasn’t really hands on. I saw him around a few times but never met him.”

If things go Storey’s way on Saturday, Rodgers will know exactly who he is then.